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Sophie Forest named angel of the year by NACO, BDC Capital

Sophie Forest, managing partner at Brightspark Ventures, has won the 2017 Canadian Angel of the Year Award, the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) announced. The award, which is sponsored by BDC Capital, recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the evolution of angel investing in Canada. Since joining Brightspark in 2003, Forest has led and managed more than 50 investments in technology companies. She played an especially key role in growing Radian6, acquired in 2011 by Salesforce for US$326 million. Prior to Brightspark, Forest was a partner at CDP Capital Technology Ventures.

PRESS RELEASE

National Angel Summit Announces Sophie Forest as 2017 Angel of the Year

Montreal, QC – The National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) is proud to announce Sophie Forest as the recipient of the 2017 Canadian Angel of the Year Award.

NACO’s Angel of the Year Award, sponsored by BDC Capital, is Canada’s top Angel investing award. It is presented to an experienced Angel who has most contributed to the growth and development of Angel investing in Canada through a combination of investment, mentorship, and leadership within their local ecosystem.

The 2017 recipient is Sophie Forest, Managing Partner, Brightspark Ventures. Since starting as Brightspark’s managing partner in 2003, Ms. Forest has led and overseen more than 50 investments in technology companies, and is known for working closely with the startups she invests in, and for her hallmark nurturing and listening qualities. Notably, she has played a pivotal role in the investment, growth and exit of Radian6, leading to a 23x multiple on capital invested and becoming one of the most successful technology exits in Canadian history.

In addition to her investment work, Ms. Forest sits on the Board of Directors of a number of companies, including Hopper, nGUVU, and Jewlr. Furthermore, she is a member of the Science and Technology Council of Canada, which provides external advice to the federal government in the domain of science, technology and innovation.

“Angel investing is a cornerstone of the early-stage startup ecosystem, and it’s very encouraging to see, namely through NACO’s latest Angel Activity Report, that it continues to grow in Canada,” said Jérôme Nycz, Executive Vice President at BDC Capital. “BDC Capital is sponsoring this award to applaud the role angels play in launching Canadian companies as well as to highlight exemplary approaches to angel investing.”

“We are once again very happy to announce the Angel of Year award recipient as part of the 2017 World Angel Investment Summit. This award recognizes the significant contribution that Angel investors make in supporting early-stage innovation in Canada. Sophie Forest is very deserving of this recognition and we are so pleased to celebrate her success,” said Yuri Navarro, Executive Director of NACO.

NACO’s World Angel Investment Summit Gala Awards Ceremony took place on October 5th, 2017. It was at this ceremony that Ms. Forest was honored for her considerable achievements in the Canadian technology ecosystem.

About the National Angel Capital Organization
The National Angel Capital Organization accelerates a thriving, early-stage investing ecosystem in Canada by connecting individuals, groups, and other partners that support Angel-stage investing. NACO provides intelligence, tools and resources for its members; facilitates key connections across networks, borders and industries; and helps to inform policy affecting the Angel asset-class. For more information, please visit www.nacocanada.com or follow us on Twitter @AngelCapCanada.

About BDC Capital
With more than $2 billion under management, BDC Capital is the investment arm of BDC, serving as a strategic partner to Canada’s most innovative and high potential firms. It offers a range of equity, venture capital and flexible growth and transition capital solutions to help Canadian entrepreneurs scale their businesses into global champions. To find out more, visit bdc.ca/capital

Backgrounder
Canadian Angel Investors
• 35 Angel groups across Canada, representing 3300 active Angels, made 418 investments amounting to $157.2 million
• A majority of Angels (80%) are located in Central Canada, with 17.3% in Western Canada and 2.7% in Eastern Canada
• The average deal size was $1.731 million, 49% more than the 2015 figure
• 71% of funding falls within 2 sectors: Life Sciences (health related companies) and ICT (information and communications technology)
• 58% of syndicated deals involved a combination of multiple syndicate partners, 9% involved syndication with Venture Capital
• Central Canada continues to be the hotspot for Angel investment activity with 61% of investments made in the region

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Buyouts Insider/Argosy Group LLC produces several free newsletters that are sent directly to the email you provide at registration (namely, PE Hub Wire, PE Hub Canada Wire, PE Hub Wire Top Story of the Week, Buyouts Daily, and VCJ Alert). To enable us to keep providing these services free of charge, we reserve the right to contact you with special invitations to sample or purchase private equity-related products.

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